JCS/The
Great Enablers:E.J. Harrison

E.J. Harrison
in Japan: "The Ring," from the Vancouver, British Columbia Daily Province,
February 6, 1902

Contributed by Wayne A. Wilson.

Old Men's Home

A lot of old-time boxers are apparently
grafting around for easy money in the Orient. By the late papers from the
Far East there are several accounts of the doings of men whose names are
well-known on this side of the water, and though some of them are has-beens,
they have science to put up a good showing with dubs, and sense to be careful
about getting mixed up with good men. Wonder if the Jack McAuliffe is the
real old Jack?

Local Amateurs Easy

A goodly number of people gathered at
the Public Hall [in Yokohama] on Saturday evening, says the Japan Daily
Advertiser, to witness the exhibition of boxing given by Jack Slavin, [EN1]
assisted by local amateurs and jujutsu experts. The smoker was in every
way a pronounced success.

The programme was long and varied, among
the items being a boxing bout between Mr. C. Thwaites and the champion
[Slavin]. This proved to be one of the most interesting events of the evening.
Spirited from start to finish, Mr. Thwaites got in some good licks, and
made a most favorable impression on the spectators with some of his clever
passes on the redoubtable Jack. Slavin, however, has a wonderfully long
reach, and this combined with his indisputable skill, makes him always
an easy victor if pushed in the contest.

The four rounds between J. Slick and
E. P. Fitzgerald were also well contested in comparison with those of Slavin
and E. F. Padmore. In the former, the match was spirited and almost even,
but the latter bout seemed tame, Mr. Slavin using his opponent very much
as he pleased, with no visibly effective resistance. [EN2]

The jujutsu feats were most diverting.
The exponents of this justly celebrated art were at their best, and we
must say that Mr. E. J. Harrison shines as a star amongst his so-called
"professors." The feats accomplished were, to the uninitiated, most difficult,
and daring, and skill displayed by Mr. Harrison at once evoked the admiration
and applause of the entire audience. The Kata, which wound up the programme,
was also much appreciated. Mr. L. C. Earle sang The Girl I Love, after
the intermission. He evidently made a favorable impression, as he was most
enthusiastically received and encored.

The Japanese fencing was unavoidably
omitted from the programme, as Mr. Milne explained that the fencers refused
to go on the stage when they learned that money was charged as admission
to the entertainment. The whole affair, however, was a distinct success.

Editor's Notes (hit
your back button to return to the text)

EN1. Jack Slavin was the brother of Frank
Slavin, who fought Peter Jackson for the British Empire Heavyweight title.

EN2. That Padmore didn't
put up a good fight is not surprising, as the paper went on to note that
"E. P. Padmore, the colored man who acted as Jack Slavin's adversary in
one of the boxing contests," died at 1:30 a.m. the following morning of
angina pectoris, or neuralgia of the heart. "At midnight Padmore sent for
Mr. Slick of the United States Naval Hospital, saying that his feet were
cold and numb, and that his left side in the vicinity of the heart was
causing much uneasiness. Dr. Taylor, attached to the Hospital, promptly
attended the patient, accompanied by two other physicians, but they were
unable to render any effectual assistance."